After weeks of speculation Major League Soccer side New York City FC have confirmed that Andrea Pirlo will be joining them as their third designated player.
Joining David Villa and Frank Lampard in New York, Pirlo will officially sign for the MLS side on July 21 and will be available for selection straight away.
An opportunity Pirlo couldn't turn down
In an interview with his new club's website, Pirlo has revealed that this an experience that he has been waiting a long time for, and now that he has been presented with the opportunity to play in the MLS, he couldn't turn it down. He feels he is joining a club that shares his hunger to achieve important results in the league, stating "I am hoping to win".
Revealing that he has had several opportunities to leave Serie A, he has no doubt that he has picked the right club in New York, partly due to the "enthusiasm of the supporters", despite it being a relatively new club.
Pirlo also believes he can build a good working relationship with his new coach Jason Kreis. He has already met his new coach and feels that Kreis has some definite ideas as to where he wants to take the team. The Italian midfielder is confident they can develop a good relationship to train well and win together.
Pirlo looking to add medal haul in New York
The cultured midfielder has accumulated an impressive medal haul in his career so far, and will be looking to add to it once he arrives in New York. He was defiant in saying isn't just going there to play out the final days of his career.
His four seasons in Turin saw him helping Juventus to win the Italian league for four successive seasons, add to the two Serie A titles he won with AC Milan. His days at Milan with also saw him win two UEFA Champions League titles.
He looked like he may add a third to that list when reaching the final with Juventus at the end of last season. Sadly Pirlo and his Juventus team-mates fell just short, losing the final 3-1 to Barcelona. He did add a second Italian Cup winners medal to his collection at the end of last season.
On the international stage, Pirlo won 115 caps for the Italian national side and was part of the squad that won the 2006 World Cup.